Pointless

I have come to realize I do not like pointless workouts. By pointless, I mean workouts whose only purpose is make you sweat. Not that they aren't good - they certainly are and can even be loads of fun! But after a while I get bored with riding the same elliptical, doing the same leg machines, running on the "dreadmill" (I so love that word) or walking endless stair over and over again.

Now, before anyone gets mad, I am not saying these machines and workouts aren't useful, occasionally  wonderful, and often fun. I am saying I get bored. I get bored e a s y. I mean, I can't even sit and watch TV with out also reading a book or working on the computer, or playing a game or something.

I like functional fitness. 

I like running outside because I am moving, I am going someplace, I have scenery and weather and fresh air. And as much as I am coming to love running, it cannot do everything for me. I need to strength train too. 

I have loved lifting weights since I was in high school. I always loved it more than cardio. On the cardio machines I got bored and in the classes I got lost - I have no rhythm unless I am singing, and I am a super klutz so dancy-cardio easily confuses me. But with free weights or weight machines I could be strong and lift weight and felt like I did something.

I have access to a weight room here at school. And it has some good machines, and a large selection of dumbbells and barbells, but even this is beginning to leave me cold. I just don't want to take the time to do a full workout with these machines.

That is where the BodyRock website comes in for me. I love this site. If you have not checked it out, I highly recommend you do so. Look at Zuzanna. She is super fit, and the workouts she posts are the only ones she does. You could grate cheese on her abs I swear (mmm, cheese...). 

The workouts are short, intense, killer workouts. They get your heart rate up, the work your muscles, and they are (to me at least) and functional fitness workout. When you do them you do real body movements, not just limited machine movements. 

So I am adding the BodyRock workouts into my running routines. I will start off with 2-3 days a week and build up from there. Between running and bodyrocking I know I will be able to change my body!

Do you like cardio machines and classes? How about the weight machines?

Have you tried functional fitness or tabata training similar to BodyRock, what did you think of it?

Sometimes plans change

So I should have graduated this past spring with a degree in Adolescent Social Studies and Special Education. That did not exactly happen. I had hoped to be able to test out of subjects or take them in summer school. That did not happen the way I wanted either. I still need a couple courses to finish my degree, and there are no jobs out there for teachers right now. I mean really, like no jobs - a lot of the school districts within a 1.5hr drive from me have actually cut positions and laid off teachers.

Given this dilemma what did I decide to do? More School! I am going to add to my certifications and get a childhood education and Students with Disabilities 1-6 added to my certifications. It will only require one more semesters worth of classes. I might even add an adolescent English with classes next semester. At that point I could basically walk into a school and say, okay, I can teach kids from grades 1-12 in Special Ed, Social Studies, ELA or general classroom. Whatdaya got? :)

This does put another year of stress on my family that I didn't want, but I think that it will work out for the best in the end. And really, if I could get in a 6th or 5th grade classroom I could teach all the subjects I like!

The other newer development lately in my half marathon training has been the addition of a partner! My neighbor has been working out with my for the last few days - and we are doing some cross training this afternoon that I am excited about.

Sometimes plans change, but change can be good.